After saving for several years, we hired a contractor, REConstruct to remodel our bathroom. They had a nice website with nice galley of past projects . There weren't many reviews we could find, but the couple that were available looked good. They seemed to be wonderful people, and maybe they are, but our experience is that their ability to professionally manage a remodel is questionable.
We had plans, elevations, and 3d renders of the space created by an architect to share for the quote. We didn't hire the lowest bid, in fact, before ANY finishes (labor and materials only), the cost was $250 sq ft.
I started this after week 8 (ending October 21) of a six week project, with no schedule or end date in sight.
We know that while they aren't working on our project, they are working on others, as their Facebook page shows.
We had plans, elevations, and 3d renders of the space created by an architect to share for the quote. We didn't hire the lowest bid, in fact, before ANY finishes (labor and materials only), the cost was $250 sq ft.
I started this after week 8 (ending October 21) of a six week project, with no schedule or end date in sight.
We know that while they aren't working on our project, they are working on others, as their Facebook page shows.
Things we expected:
- An accurate initial quote (ours was missing significant elements, like vaulted ceilings and a skylight)
- A project plan and schedule
- Any communication that work will happen the next day(s)
- A "foreperson" to communicate with tradesmen about what needs to be done, and to ensure things were done properly
- Actions to match words (e.g., "we're so sorry, let's get this back on track." - and then proactively working to do this)
Things we experienced:
- Blame. If there was a delay, it was our fault (gaslighting)
- The expectation that it was our role to tell tradesmen what to do how to do and to check their work
- Being dismissed
- Weeks without work, then a little work...perhaps to show they haven't "abandoned" the project
- Excuses, inability to provide a general schedule or project plan
- A complete lack of empathy, humility, or accountability
Termination
After 12 weeks (only 13 days of work out of 60), we asked, and they agreed to terminate the project. Where did it end? With the bathroom barely roughed-in. So far, new companies we're interviewing look shocked when they enter the room and realize how long this project has been going on. When we answer how much we've paid (>$20,000) to them, each potential contractor (seriously) does the same thing...they look down and shake their head and apologize for the situation since it impacts the industry. Half decline the project stating concerns about the work done and the issues they can see. Those who do provide estimates all want to start (almost) over, demo-ing the sheetrock to expose the framing, plumbing, and electrical. Unless there's some sort of miracle, it will be months before we have the master bath complete.
August - 3 of 4 days worked
Mon
Tues
Wed
Thur
Fri
Sat-Sun
22
This is to normalize cell size. asdfa asdf adsf sdf fds sfd dfs fds ds dsf
23
24
25
NO WORK
26
Project scheduled to start, delayed.
Weekend
27-28
4-8h Work
29
Demo
4-8h Work
30
Demo
Issue with plans found/resolved (or so I thought)
4-8h Work
31
Framing
September - 7 of 21 days worked
Mon
Tues
Wed
Thur
Fri
Sat-Sun
< 1h Work
1
Move wire - 45 minutes
4-8h Work
2
Framing
4-8h Work
Weekend
3-4
Install skylights (3x8h)
NO WORK
5
Holiday
NO WORK
6
NO WORK
7
NO WORK
8
NO WORK
9
Weekend
10-11
NO WORK
12
4-8h Work
13
Electrical (2 people)
NO WORK
14
NO WORK
15
NO WORK
16
Look, discuss, leave
Weekend
17-18
I hire some men to remove the rusting tub from the deck. Damage noted.
I discover soffit (wet area) was made 3.5" shorter than architect's plans
I discover soffit (wet area) was made 3.5" shorter than architect's plans
NO WORK
19
NO WORK
20
Look, discuss, leave
NO WORK
21
NO WORK
22
Look, discuss, leave
NO WORK
23
Weekend
24-25
Discover their plans are stud to stud, but show wall to wall, which would have been an inch off.
NO WORK
26
4-8h Work
27
Joists, plumbing
4-8h Work
28
Joists
4-8h Work
29
Framing, drywall
4-8h Work
30
2 people work on drywall
October - 3 of 21 days worked
Mon
Tues
Wed
Thur
Fri
Sat-Sun
Weekend
1-2
< 1h Work
3
Worked less than 45 minutes, said joint compound wet by skylights & couldn't do anything.
1-4h Work
4
Joint compound (1x4h)
NO WORK
5
Not ready for worker (tile installer). Drain installed incorrectly, must be replaced.
NO WORK
5
Materials incorrect, can't waterproof shower. No areas (floor, shower, vanity wall) ready for tile installer.
4-8h Work
7
Shower pan and walls (2x7h)
Weekend
8-9
NO WORK
10
NO WORK
11
Tiler now unavailable 2-3 weeks
NO WORK
12
NO WORK
13
Luke meets with L&A.They promise to get things back on track including a project plan and weekly status meetings.
NO WORK
14
Weekend
15-16
4-8h Work
17
Shower and misc fixes to previous work.(1x6h)
1-4h Work
18
Misc fixes to previous work. (1x4h)
NO WORK
19
NO WORK
20
NO WORK
21
Weekend
22-23
Reviewing images, I see the shower pan isn't wide enough. Glass can't attach to soffit or walls (no blocking).
NO WORK
24/31
NO WORK
25
Offered to send someone tomorrow, but would not have project meeting, had not produced a project plan. Given the issues found, we denied without a meeting.
NO WORK
26
NO WORK
27
NO WORK
28
Dumpster people come (unnanounced) to remove. Can't because chute is still attached.
Weekend
29-30
November - 0 of 14 days worked. Contractor terminated 11/18.
Mon
Tues
Wed
Thur
Fri
Sat-Sun
NO WORK
1
NO WORK
2
NO WORK
3
NO WORK
4
Weekend
5-6
NO WORK
7
Received text: they want to remove chute. They offer a project status meeting.
NO WORK
8
NO WORK
9
Workers remove chute, Take materials including TPO remnant.
NO WORK
10
NO WORK
11
Dumpster removed.
No communication since the Monday text.
No communication since the Monday text.
Weekend
12-13
NO WORK
14
NO WORK
15
NO WORK
16
NO WORK
17
After no communication, we reach out to them to follow up about meeting.
FIRED
18
Meet. All agree to terminate project. We request project release. Should receive Monday.
Weekend
19-20
21
Did not receive project release that we were told would be ready today.
22
23
Followed up via text about project release (two days past commitment date).
24
Holiday
25
Still no response to text, no project release.
Weekend
26-27
Reviewing images, I see the shower pan isn't wide enough. Glass can't attach to soffit or walls (no blocking).
28
29
Sent another text asking about the release. Still no response.
30
Weekend